Aizawl, Jan 29 : Mizoram has more ration cards than its total population.

The startling revelation was made in the Statistical Handbook of Mizoram, 2014 released by state planning minister Lalsawta on Tuesday. According to it, there were more than 15 lakh ration cards in the state which has a population of not even 11 lakh (2011 Census).

The population of Mizoram, according to the 2011 census, was 10, 97,206. But as per 2, 65,473 ration cards issued by the state food, civil supplies and consumer affairs department, the figure stands at 15, 43,180 till June, 2014.

The names in the cards issued show that there were 11, 78,563 adults and 3, 64, 617 minors. Officials suspect that many retailers who were selling rice at subsidized rates to the public through PDS fraudulently made fake ration cards so that they could sell surplus rice at higher prices, especially in bulk.

"It was impossible to detect such fake ration cards as the shop owners, in connivance with the leaders of village councils or local councils, approach the food, civil supplies and consumer affairs department for issuing ration cards," said an official.

A leader of Young Mizo Association (YMA) said the YMA had tried to correct the wrong but it was an extremely difficult task.